Freeman, George Frank
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | George Frank |
Surname | Freeman |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | Croix de Guerre 1940 avec Palm (Belgium). |
Date of Death | 28-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Christopher Willie (William) Freeman and Kate Elizabeth Freeman (née Mansell), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | HX313 |
Markings | QB-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 5. D. 3. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 166 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/88397 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 424 (Tiger) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Heldeplein, Oostham, Limburg Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Inscribed metal sculpture & stencilled information board |
Memorial Text |
Location | Village Green, Skipton on Swale, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the Canadian personnel who served at RAF Skipton on Swale during WW2, including 424 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
See the book 'De laaste Vlucht van de Blonde Bomber' by Frans Smolders |
George was born on 10 April 1924 at Toronto, Ontario. His father was a Green Keeper born in Hereford, England and his mother was born at Richmond, Surrey, England. He had one married sister. The schools he attended were Bichcliff, Toronto (probably a typing error for Birch Cliff) 1931- 1939, followed by Scarborough Collegiate, 1939-1941. His sporting interests were golf, hockey rugby and baseball. George worked for Tom Taylor, sail making from 1940 to 1941 and then for T. Eaton Co. Ltd, Toronto as an upholsterer, 1941-1942. He then enlisted on 1 September 1942. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 16 July 1943 arriving at 3 PRC on 23 July 1943. From there he continued to 22 OTU 10 August 1943, 1664 CU 30 September, 431 Sqn 23 November 1943, 61 Base 9 December 1843 and then 424 Squadron 30 January 1944. Sadly George then lost his life on 28 May 1944 aged just 20 years. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1835/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1835/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-05-1944 |
End Date | 28-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (31% moon) |
Operation | Bourg-Leopold to bomb the military camp. 331 aircraft, 10 Lost (3.0%). The use of Oboe helped to pinpoint the target exactly resulting in serious damage to the target. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Oostham Langven, Belgium |